Arsenal humiliate Lens to reach Champions League Last 16

Arsenal secured a spot in the Champions League Round of 16 as the top team in Group B, after they crushed Lens 6-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had a few goal-scoring chances before breaking the deadlock, with Kai Havertz narrowly missing the target with a header. 

Moments afterwards, however, Havertz found the net, capitalising on Gabriel Jesus' header across the goal to beat Brice Samba with 13 minutes played.

Jesus doubled Arsenal's lead just eight minutes later, cutting in from the right and skillfully navigating his way through Lens' defense.

Just two minutes later, Bukayo Saka scored the third, netting ia rebound from Samba's save from Gabriel Martinelli's effort.

Martinelli scored Arsenal's fourth four minutes later, after receiving a diagonal ball from Takehiro Tomiyasu, as he cut inside and unleashed a powerful shot past Samba.

In stoppage time of the first half, Martin Odegaard added a fifth after a counter-attack involving Saka and an inviting cross from Tomiyasu.

With the game effectively decided, the second half was played at a slower pace from both teams. Lens had no chance of staging a comeback, and comfortably ahead, the Gunners took a more relaxed approach.

Samba denied Havertz a potential sixth goal, but four minutes from time VAR awarded Mikel Arteta's men a penalty after Abdukodir Khusanov's handball. 

Jorginho coolly converted the penalty to secure a comprehensive 6-0 victory.

Big Picture: Arsenal have guaranteed top spot in Group B with one game remaining, and they hold a four-point lead over second-placed PSV Eindhoven, who staged a remarkable comeback to overturn a two-goal deficit to defeat Sevilla 3-2 in Spain.

On the other hand, Lens are positioned three points behind in third place. To have a chance of progressing to the Last 16, the French side must win their final group match against Sevilla at home and hope Arsenal beat PSV.

xG: Arsenal (2.70) 6-0 (0.44) Lens